MASON, Ohio – In the first semifinal contest of the 2023 BIG EAST Baseball Championship presented by Jeep, No. 2 seed Xavier stamped its place in the BIG EAST title game with a, 10-2, win over top-seed Connecticut Thursday night at Prasco Park.
 
For the fourth consecutive BIG EAST Championship, the Musketeers are set to return to the title game and will play the winner of Friday’s second semifinal game between UConn and No. 4 seed Georgetown Saturday at 2 p.m. If necessary, a rubber match is slated for 5:30 p.m. All games are being broadcast by the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports.
 
Xavier got off to a blazing start, taking advantage of bases loaded at the top of the lineup. Stepping up to the plate with zero outs, senior designated hitter Tyler DeMartino singled up the middle advancing graduate left fielder Andrew Walker to third, while both junior catcher Matthew Deprey and graduate shortstop Jack Housinger crossed home plate.
 
On the very next at bat, senior first baseman Matt McCormick collected an RBI on a fly out, as Walker checked up to give the Musketeers a 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the first, UConn cracked the scoreboard on its second at bat when graduate second baseman Paul Tammaro blasted a shot to deep right field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
 
Back on base, Housinger and Walker teamed up for the fifth time in two days, as Walker collected his fifth RBI of the week, while Housinger rounded the bases for the sixth time in 11 innings. With the run, Xavier carried a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth, before continuing to extend its lead.
 
Despite the Musketeers grounding into a double play, junior third baseman Grant Stephenson reached home plate to extend the lead to 5-1. Moments later, McCormick reached on a fielding error, as Housinger scored his third run of the game and seventh of the tournament, pushing the Musketeers’ lead to five runs.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, UConn got back on the board when redshirt sophomore center fielder David Smith collected an RBI single to send graduate designated hitter Luke Broadhurst home.
 
Continuing to put on a show for the Musketeers, Housinger smacked a two-run homer to right field to register his fourth run of the game, while sophomore right fielder Carter Hendrickson also tallied a run.
 
In the top of the eighth, runners on first and third, McCormick doubled down the right field line to send DePrey across the plate and push Xavier in front 9-2.
 
Continuing to extend the lead, Housinger singled up the middle in the ninth to collect his third RBI of the game, sending senior second baseman Jared Cushing home.
 
On the mound for the Musketeers, senior Ethan Bosacker was lights out pitching 7.2 innings and throwing 128 pitches to lead Xavier back to the title game. Bosacker capped the night with five strikeouts, while allowing nine hits and two runs.
 
The senior last pitched in a BIG EAST Tournament game on May 29, 2021, leading the Musketeers past Creighton, 2-1. In his last two Championship games, he has allowed just 14 hits and three runs, while striking out 11 batters.

The Huskies will return to Prasco Park Friday at 5 p.m. to take on No. 4 seed Georgetown in the tournament’s second semifinal matchup.